Introduction
Throughout history, many individuals have attempted to gain a better understanding of the human psyche, centering on the ways in which various internal and external factors can influence a person’s actions, thoughts, and development. With the development of science and phycological theory, new approaches and frameworks of understanding have formed to give society more context for people’s actions. Personality, in large part, is what defines and separates an individual from the rest of their contemporaries, making them unique in a way that is difficult to measure. At the same time, parts of one’s personality can be used to compare and contrast people, showing their similarities to each other. There are a number of ideas on how an individual’s personality gets established, develops, and cements itself, and they are crucial in forming a unique understanding of human nature. This review will in turn focus on comparing and contrasting two separate theories of personality. The first one presupposes that personality is the result of a person’s internal workings and the relationship between their inner desires and outward actions. Personality is therefore shaped by conflict and contrast between different parts of a person’s psyche. The other approach proposes that personality is formed when a person interacts with their environment and that it has a large influence on how they behave, think, and feel. The evaluation will focus on displaying the positive and negative aspects of both theories, as well as determining which approach is more suitable for understanding human nature.
Psychoanalytic Theory
The psychoanalytic theory of personality was first coined by Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist, and psychologist. The main contention of the theory is that human development comes in stages, each of which is identified primarily by a certain internal conflict. To Freud, each individual had three parts of their mind: the id, the ego, and the superego (Boundless). The Id is responsible for primal desires and the need to receive pleasure in this regard, it’s a more straightforward and primitive part of a person’s thought process. This part of the mind exists and functions unconsciously influencing a person’s decision-making process on an intrinsic level (Boundless). Superego, on the other hand, exists as a more rational part of the brain, keeping the desires in check and being responsible for exercising self-control. The Superego controls the person’s behavior in the framework of morality, social rules, and laws that are used in their society (Boundless). The third part, then the ego, exists as a mediator between the other two, which allows people to successfully function within society and fulfill their own desires to some extent (Boundless). Its functions add both the conscious and unconscious levels creating a way for one’s desires and sense of control to be integrated into their actions and behaviors. These three parts exist in a constant state of conflict with each other, as they are responsible for different kinds of responses to the outside world. The interactions between the three parts of the mind result in the person trying to find a certain sense of balance between them establishing their pattern of behavior. Freud’s theory, however, Has a number of downsides in its usability and truthfulness as it fails to accurately take into account a variety of factors that are scientifically proven to influence human behavior. Furthermore, Freud’s research has been mostly focused on evaluating the state of individuals outside the norm and ignoring the ones that exhibit standard functioning, which presents limited usability in most circumstances.
Behavioral Theory
Behavioral theories of personality take a different approach to the Freudian one, focusing more completely on a person’s interaction with their environment, and not the individual’s internal struggles. There were a number of subscribers to this theory, including B. F. Skinner and John B. Watson (Cherry, 2020). While it also does not cover the entire spectrum of variables that affect a person’s rationale, the method nevertheless presents a more nuanced perspective on the formation of character. The theory takes a more evidence-based approach, focusing on evaluating and studying the influence of human societal interaction. Such considerations as one’s mood, feelings, or internal thoughts are not taken into account, as they are not able to be quantified. Due to the narrow focus on the outside factors, the approach successfully evaluates and takes into account the measurements that the psychoanalytical method does not. The Behavioral view of personality also includes such concepts as classic conditioning and operant conditioning, which are used to explain the forming of habitual behavior, often in response to stimuli (Behavioral Theory of Personality 2020). When a person is subjected to a certain set of conditions they can come to behave in specific ways as a response to these particular conditions. For followers of behavioral psychology, the ways in which a person comes to act when presented with a social situation are the foundational principles for how one’s personality is shaped. Coming into contact with other people, starting out with close family, friends, teachers, and later on colleagues, all of the interactions taking place during a person’s life are what shape their understanding of the world. A person’s position within their social circle and the influence of one’s life circumstances on their character are also explained by this framework.
Use
The use of psychoanalysis in modern psychology is limited, as the theory lacks some of the depth and intricacy other comprehensive approaches may offer, however, it can still be useful in therapy and other support processes. For the most part, it is used to identify a person’s inner issues and address them in a healthier manner, facilitating better coping mechanisms and responses. Understanding how one’s unconscious desires and thoughts can affect a person’s behavior can be greatly beneficial, as the process of self-reflection often leads to better healing and recovery. The relationship between the Id, Ego, and Superego, similarly, can aid in better understanding of the self, and the decision-making processes that underline a person’s daily life. Warped perspectives on life and incorrect adaptation methods that do more harm than good. By effectively examining one’s responses to situations, feelings, and internal thoughts, a person can come to a mental equilibrium, and better their personality.
Behavioral theory, similarly, can be used to assist and guide people in need of mental and emotional support. By examining a person’s relationship with their surroundings, an individual can gain the ability to better interact with others, as well as to find the problems that hinder their mental wellbeing. In many cases, the outside factors of a person’s life can have a devastating effect on their decision-making process, perception of self, and mental wellbeing. Identifying the factors of one’s social circle that can be either detrimental or beneficial to a person’s life can be effective in finding ways of self-improvement and growth. The study of behavior is also useful in educational fields, as it can be beneficial to improving the study process by helping introduce more effective educational methods. The use of techniques that facilitate positive types of behavior and aid learning can be encouraged this way.
Major Differences
Major differences between the psychoanalytical theory and the behavioral theory are evident in their focus. Psychoanalysis focuses on the internal factors in a person’s personality, the ways in which their own thoughts affect their relationship with others, and the environment. The interactions between the Id, Ego and Superego are what form a person’s view of the world, define their contribution to it, and the way they see their place in the world. Behavioral theory, alternatively, places the focus on the interaction side of the human experience, choosing to pay more attention to the way a person’s social life shapes them. Communication with other individuals, a person’s work within their social sphere. Behavior is therefore seen as a result of previous experience, a learned response that can be changed or actively kept in track with proper reflection. Furthermore, the application of both approaches varies in their scale. Psychoanalysis is useful as an introspection method in one-on-one interactions and resolving an individual’s problems, while the study of behavior can be used in wider programs and initiatives that are applied on a massive scale. Introducing changes in the workplace, the school or college environment, and changing fundamental approaches to the topic of encouraging a specific response, the study of behavior is more useful on a societal level.
Which One is Preferred
The behavioral theory seems to be a more comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to understanding a person, psyche, and personality. Humans, as social creatures, are dependent on their environment in a major way. Through social interaction, circumstances of life, and conditions imposed on people, they come to develop and grow in different ways. Without the influence of others, people are unable to fully become assimilated into society, as well as to function in a socially acceptable manner. Therefore, a person’s surroundings and their response to them form an essential part of human development. In contrast, Freud’s psychoanalysis fails to consider the different conditions people can be subjected to, and inaccurately portray all of the factors that contribute to a person’s life in the real world. Furthermore, the approach mostly considers the peculiarities and signifiers of abnormal or deviant behavior, meaning that the approach is less suited for examining the actions of a normal individual. It is also important to mention that the Freudian method has a lot less applicability in a structured framework, being used specifically to address the problems of a certain individual that may stem from their unconscious. The study of response and behavior, alternatively, can be adapted into larger frameworks to aid people in improving their wellbeing and increasing the positive impact they can make on the world. When used in specific circumstances, behaviorism can establish better habits, proper response mechanisms, and emotional reactions, assisting people in navigating the social life of today. Psychoanalysis can be a lot less viable for enforcing positive change and does not translate well into direct solutions. It can also be said that the psychoanalytical view is less susceptible to understanding, as the concept of the unconscious can be difficult to grasp in its full capacity. The ability to frame a lot of the issues of the human experience on the unconscious thoughts and desires can oftentimes miss the underlying cause of an issue and assign blame to the patient wrongfully.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both theories of human personality have a distinct focus on the different ways people come to develop, paying attention either to the internal or external factors. Freud finds use in forming a better understanding of how a person’s desires shape their actions and the ways in which individuals keep themselves in check to fit within the boundaries of society. The relationship between the 3 parts of the mind then dictates how bound by their desires or the sense of propriety a person is, and how well they are able to control their basic instincts. The behavioral theory, as discussed previously, takes a more scientific and external approach, as it discusses and explores how outside factors can shape a person’s response. Interactions with other people and the general way in which a person communicates with their surroundings form their understanding of the world, the kinds of actions they are likely to take, and which approaches they would consider be most successful. The two approaches are used in different contexts, one is far more personal than the other, allowing people to delve into the feelings they might not have known they had, gaining an ability for better introspection and the development of better coping mechanisms. The behavioral theory, on the other hand, can be applied both in an individual context and in a larger societal framework.
References
Boundless, Boundless Psychology. Lumen. Web.
Behavioral Theory of Personality. EMPOWER Community Health – 617-729-9111. (2020).
Cherry, K. (2020). What Personality Theories in Psychology May Tell You About Yours. Verywell Mind. Web.